Self-feeding device for handicapped persons

ABSTRACT

A self-feeding device is operated by an electric motor that is energized through a switch adapted to be activated by a wand attached to a handicapped operator who need only be able to control the motion of his head and neck. The device comprises a spoon clamped to a first shaft that is mounted for rotation adjacent one end of a tubular arm. The electric motor is coupled to a second shaft, fixed adjacent to the other end of the tubular arm, to reciprocate the arm over a 90 degree angle, between horizontal and vertical positions. Cams are provided so that each time the switch is actuated the arm rotates 90*. A link, disposed within the tubular arm, has one end coupled to the first shaft through a crank and the other end pivoted so that the spoon can be disposed within a dish at an angle of less than 180* to the horizontal, whereby food may be pushed, via the wand, from the dish onto the spoon when the arm is in a horizontal position. The spoon is automatically rotated to a substantially horizontal position when the arm is moved to a vertical position.

United States Patent [1 1 Morewood [54] SELF-FEEDING DEVICE FORHANDICAPPED PERSONS [76] Inventor: William Henry Morewood, l8 LaningAvenue, Pennington, NJ. 08534 [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.:226,912

[52] US. Cl. ..2l4/1 T, 2l4/l CM, 2l4/DIG.10

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. WernerAttorney-Arthur I. Spechler 1 May 22, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A self-feedingdevice is operated by an electric motor that is energized through aswitch adapted to be activated by a wand attached to a handicappedoperator who need only be able to control the motion of his head andneck. The device comprises a spoon clamped to a first shaft that ismounted for rotation adjacent one end of a tubular arm. The electricmotor is coupled to a second shaft, fixed adjacent to the other end ofthe tubular arm, to reciprocate the arm over a 90 degree angle, betweenhorizontal and vertical positions. Cams are provided so that each timethe switch is actuated the arm rotates 90. A link, disposed within thetubular arm, has one end coupled to the first shaft through a crank andthe other end pivoted so that the spoon can be disposed within a dish atan angle of less than l80 to the horizontal, whereby food may be pushed,via the wand, from the dish onto the spoon when the arm is in ahorizontal position. The spoon is automatically rotated to asubstantially horizontal position when the arm is moved to a verticalposition.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SELF-FEEDING DEVICE FOR HANDICAIPPEI)PERSONS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates generally to aself-feeding device for handicapped persons, and more particularly to aself-feeding device for a person who can move his head and neck but nothis arms and feet.

It has been proposed to provide self-feeding devices for handicappedpersons but many of the prior-art devices require the use of the personslegs and feet. Consequently, handicapped persons who cannot use eithertheir feet or arms cannot use these devices. Many of the prior-artself-feeding devices are rather bulky and complex so that thehandicapped person cannot conveniently eat at the same table with hisfamily. Also, some of the moving parts of the prior-art devices presentsafety hazards in that the operators hair or clothing may become caughtin these parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-feedingdevice for persons who may be able to control only the motion of theirneck and head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-feedingdevice which will enable a person using it to eat at the same table withhis family.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aself-feeding device that utilizes conventional eating implements anddishes, which can be easily removed for washing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-feedingdevice wherein a feeding implement may be disposed first at an anglewith respect to a plate for easily loading the implement with food fromthe plate, in any desired sequence of the food, and then disposing thefeeding implement in a horizontal position near the eaters mouth forconsuming the food.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide aself-feeding device that is relatively smaller, easier to operate,lighter in weight and more portable than many prior-art self-feedingdevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The novel self-feeding device of the presentinvention is adapted to be operated by an electric motor that isenergized through a switch; and the switch is adapted to be actuated bya wand attached to the body of the operator. The self-feeding devicecomprises a tubular arm and means, including a drive shaft, adjacent oneend of the tubular arm for reciprocating the tubular arm over an angleof 90. The tubular arm rotates through 90 each time the switch isactuated. A second shaft is rotatably mounted adjacent the other end ofthe tubular arm and adapted to hold a feeding implement. When thetubular arm is in a horizontal position, the feeding implement isdisposed at an angle of less than 180 with respect to a dish so thatfood from the dish can be pushed, by the wand, onto the feedingimplement. When the tubular arm is rotated to a vertical position, meansare provided to cause the second shaft to rotate in a direction toincrease the angle the feeding implement makes with the horizontal,whereby the operator may retrieve the food from the feeding implementeasily with his mouth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, ofthe self-feeding device, a plate being shown in cross-section, and anarm of the device being shown in two extreme positions of travel, one ofthe positions being shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the self-feeding device; FIG. 3 is aperspective view of the self-feeding device with parts cut away to showthe operation of the device; FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a portionof the feeding device to illustrate the feeding implement in differentpositions of the arm of the device; and

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the self-feeding device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings, there is shown a self-feeding device 10 adapted to beoperated by a handicapped person 12 who does not have the use of hisarms, hands and legs. The person 12, however, can move his head andneck. A suitable headband 14, of the type used in welders hats, forexample, is disposed securely on the head of the person 12 by anysuitable means for manipulating a wand 16 for the purpose hereinafterappearing.

A tubular member 18 is fixed to the headband 14 and disposed at an anglethereto for receiving one end of the wand 16 therein. The upper end ofthe wand 16 is secured to the member 18 by a screw 20. A pusher 22 of awashable material, such as Nylon or Teflon" plastic material, that canfunction as a shovel and as a switch actuator is fastened, by anysuitable means, to the other end of the wand 16 for the purposehereinafter appearing. It will now be understood that the person 12 canmanipulate the wand 16 to different parts of the device 10 by moving hishead and neck appropriately.

The self-feeding device 10 comprises a baseboard 24 of generallyrectangular shape adapted to rest upon a table and has a plurality ofspacer feet 26 which are fixed to the lower surface 27 of the baseboard24 to prevent the baseboard 24 from marring a table top when restingthereon. A dish, such as a plate 28, is placed on the upper surface 30of the baseboard 24. Food (not shown) to be fed to the handicappedperson 12 is placed on the plate 28 from where it may be transferredadjacent a handicapped persons mouth in a manner to be hereinafterexplained.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, there is shown a tubular arm 32having one end fixed to a counter weight 34. A main drive shaft 36 isjournaled in two parallel spaced-apart walls 38 and 39 that extendupwardly from the baseboard 24. The drive shaft 36 is rigidly fixed tothe counter weight 34 adjacent one end of the arm 32. The drive shaft 36is disposed perpendicularly to the tubular arm 32.

Means are provided to rotate the main drive shaft 36 about its axis andto reciprocate the tubular arm 32 over an angle of To this end, anelectric motor 40 is fixed to the baseboard 24 so that its shaft 42extends through an opening in the wall 39. A cam member 46 is fixed tothe end of the shaft 42 for rotation therewith in the direction of thearrow 47. The cam member 46 has raised portions 48 and 50 disposedapart. A normally-closed micro switch 52 is fixed to the wall 44, by anysuitable means, and has a cam follower 54 that rides on the cam member46. The cam follower 54 is adapted to be raised by the raised portions48 and 50 during the rotation of the cam member 46 and thereby open themicro switch 52 when its cam follower 54 is so actuated.

A crank 56 is fixed to an end of the main drive shaft 36 and aconnecting rod 58 has its ends pivotally attached to a pivot 60 fixed tothe cam member 46 and a pivot 62 fixed to the crank 56. The dimensionsof the crank 56, the connecting rod 58, and the pivotal connections ofthe connecting rod 58 to the crank 56 and to the cam member 46 are suchthat a 180 rotation of the cam member 46 causes the main drive shaft 36,and the tubular arm 32 fixed thereto, to rotate over an angle of 90whereby the arm 32 moves from a horizontal position to a verticalposition. Another 180 rotation of the cam member 46 in the same generaldirection of rotation causes the main drive shaft 36 to rotate in anopposite direction from its previous direction of rotation and causesthe arm 32 to move from its extreme vertical position back to itsextreme horizontal position. Thus, a 360 rotation of the cam member 46causes the main drive shaft 36 and the tubular arm 32 fixed thereto toreciprocate a full cycle over a 90 angle.

The motor 40, which may be a synchronous motor, has reduction means forrotating its shaft 42 at a rate of about 10 rpm. Means are provided toenergize the motor 40. To this end, there is provided a normallyopenmicro switch 64 fixed to the baseboard 24 adjacent an edge thereof(FIGS. 1 and 2). A rod 66 is pivotally connected adjacent one endthereof to the micro switch 64 in a manner whereby the normally-openmicro switch 64 can be closed by depressing the rod 66 as with thepusher 22 of the wand 16.

Referring now to FIG. there is shown a schematic diagram of the mannerin which the normally-closed micro switch 52 and normally-open microswitch 64 are connected to the motor 40. The motor 40 has one terminal68 connected to one output terminal of a suitable source of voltage,such as conventional l volt ac line, and another terminal 70 connectedto the other output terminal of the voltage source through parallelyconnected switches 52 and 64. The wiring diagram of FIG. 5 is such thatthe motor 40 can be energized through either the micro switch 62 or themicro switch 54 when either one is closed.

Means are provided to receive food from the plate 28 and to deliver itto the mouth of the operator, the handicapped person. To this end, ashaft 74 (FIG. 3) capable of rotation about its axis is disposedadjacent the distal end of the tubular arm 32 and perpendicular to thetubular arm 32. The tubular arm 32 has an enlarged hollow compartment 76fixed to its distal end, as by welding or soldering, as shown in FIG. 3.The shaft 74 is journaled for rotation in a vertical wall 78 of thecompartment 76. A crank 80 is fixed to the end of the shaft 74 withinthe compartment 76, and a link 82, disposed mostly within the tubulararm 32, has one end pivotally affixed to the crank 80 and the other endpivotally affixed to a pivot 84 that extends from the wall 38 into arecess cavity in the counter weight 34. The distance between the pivot84 and the axis of the main drive shaft 36 is greater than the radiallength of the crank 80 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Means are provided to attach a feeding implement, such as a spoon 86,for example, to the shaft 74. Thus, an adjustable coupling sleeve 88comprises a tube and a set screw 90 adjacent on end thereof forconnecting the sleeve 88 to the shaft 74, and a slot 91 for holding thehandle 92 of the implement 86 therein with the aid of a set screw 94.

The rotation of the spoon 86 about its axis during the travel of thetubular arm 32 from its horizontal position to the vertical positionwill be explained with the aid of the schematic diagram of FIG. 4. Thedistance between the axes of the shafts 36 and 74 and the distancebetween the pivot centers of the link 82 are substantially equal. Thedistance between the axis of the main drive shaft 36 and the pivot 84for the link 82 is relatively greater than the radial length of thecrank 80. With this structure, the spoon 86 can be adjusted by means ofthe set screw on the sleeve 88 so that the rim of the bowl of the spoon86 touches the inside of the plate 28, whereby the spoon 86 makes anangle x (FIG. 4) of less than with the horizontal. When the tubular arm32 is raised to its vertical position, the spoon 86 is rotated so thatthe angle x increases, whereby the spoon now makes an angle of about 180with the horizontal. Thus, when the tubular arm 32 is in its horizontalposition the spoon 86 is disposed in a manner whereby food can beshoveled into the bowl of the spoon by means of the pusher 22 of thewand 16. When however, the tubular arm 32 is rotated to its verticalposition the bowl of the spoon 86 is in a substantially horizontalposition so that the handicapped person operating the self-feedingdevice 10 can easily remove the food from the spoon 86.

The operation of the self-feeding device 10 by the handicapped person 12able to move only his head and neck will now be described. Let it beassumed that the tubular arm 32 is in its horizontal position, the spoon86 is adjusted so that the front edge of the rim of the bowl of thespoon 86 is substantially in contact with the bottom of the plate 28 anddisposed at an angle thereto so that food on the plate 28 can be pushedinto the bowl of the spoon 86 by manipulating the pusher 22 and the wand16 by the head of the handicapped person 12. The cam member 46 isdisposed so that its ra'ised portion 48 opens the normally-closed microswitch 52. In order to raise the spoon 86 to substantially the level ofthe mouth of the operator 12, the operator presses the rod 66 with thepusher 22 of the wand 16 to close the normally-open micro switch 64. Therod 66 is depressed for a couple of seconds until the energized motor 48rotates the cam member 46 so that the cam follower 54 no longer rides onthe raised portion 48. At this point, the normally-closed micro switch52 completes the circuit to the power source and causes the tubular arm32 to rotate to the vertical position, shown in phantom in FIG. 1. Atthis point, the cam follower 54 of the normally-closed micro switch 52rides on the raised portion 50 of the cam member 46 and disconnects thepower source from the motor 40, thereby stopping the tubular arm 32 inthe vertical position. After the operator 12 has removed the food fromthe spoon 86, he again momentarily depresses the rod 66 to actuate thenormally-open micro switch 54 to rotate the cam member 46 until the camfollower 54 no longer rides on the raised portion 50. At this point, thenormally-closed micro switch 52 closes and causes the main drive shaft36 to rotate until the cam follower 54 is raised again by the raisedportion 48 of the cam member 46. When this happens, the tubular arm 32has again reciprocated to its horizontal position, and the spoon 86 isdisposed at an angle to the horizontal to receive food from the plate28. By manipulating the wand 16 with his head, the operator 12 can pushfood from any position on the plate 28 into the bowl of the spoon 86 inany desired sequence. It is noted that, in order to energize the motor40, it is only necessary to depress the rod 66 with the wand 16momentarily until a raised portion (48 and 50) of the cam member 46moves away from the cam follower 54. Once this happens, the normallyclosed micro switch 52 takes over until a raised portion (48 or 50) ofthe cam member 46 again causes the cam follower 54 to open the normallyclosed switch 52. The raised portions 48 and 50 of the cam member 46 arelong enough to allow the motor 40 to coast to a stop withoutreenergizing the switch 52, thereby stopping the tubular arm 32 ineither its horizontal position or its vertical position. Most of themoving parts of the self-feeding device are enclosed'by a cover 96 toprevent hair or clothing or parts of the body from being caught in themoving parts. Also, by enclosing the link 82 within the tubular memberarm 32 and the crank 80 within a hollow compartment 76, the self-feedingdevice 10 is rendered safe for use by handicapped persons.

While the feeding implement described herein for use with the novelself-feeding device is a spoon, it is within the contemplation of thepresent invention to utilize other feeding implements, such as forks,soup spoons, and the like. Also, instead of attaching the wand to theoperators head, as shown and described, it is also within thecontemplation of the present invention to attach the wand to othermovable parts of the operators body.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-feeding device comprising:

a tubular arm,

a main drive shaft,

means fixing said main drive shaft adjacent one end of said arm,

means to reciprocate said main drive shaft about its axis over an angleof substantially 90, whereby to reciprocate said arm between asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position,

a link disposed within said arm,

a first fixed pivot,

means connecting one end of said link to said first pivot for movementthereabout,

a second shaft,

means disposing said second shaft for rotation about its axis, adjacentthe other end of said arm, and substantially parallel to said main driveshaft,

a crank fixed adjacent one end of said second shaft,

means pivotally connecting the other end of said link to said crank torotate said second shaft when said tubular arm is reciprocated,

a feeding implement, and

means attaching said implement adjacent the other end of said secondshaft.

2. A self-feeding device as described in claim 1, wherein the distancebetween said first fixed pivot and said main drive shaft is greater thanthe radial length of said crank.

3. A self-feeding device as described in claim 2, wherein said maindrive shaft is perpendicular to said tubular arm, and

said means to reciprocate said main drive shaft comprises a motor, a cammember coupled to said motor, and two switches connected in parallelwith each other and each in series with said motor, one of said switchesbeing normally closed and comprising means to be opened with every 180rotation of said cam member.

4. A self-feeding device adapted to be operated by an electric motorthat is energized through a first switch, which is actuated by a wandattached to the body of an operator, said device comprising:

a baseboard for holding a dish,

means mounting said first switch on said baseboard for actuation by saidwand,

a tubular arm,

a feeding implement,

means mounting said implement, adjacent one end of said arm, forrotation about a first axis perpendicular to said arm,

means, coupled to said motor, for reciprocating said arm over an angleof between a substantially horizontal position and a substantiallyvertical position, about a second axis adjacent the other end of saidarm and substantially parallel to said first axis; said arm movingthrough about 90 each time said first switch is actuated, and

means, including a first link within said tubular arm,

to dispose said implement in contact with said dish and at an angle ofless than with the horizontal when said arm is in a horizontal positionand to rotate said implement to dispose it at an angle closer to 180with the horizontal when said arm is moved to its vertical position.

5. A self-feeding device as described in claim 4, wherein said meansmounting said implement for rotation about said first axis comprises afirst shaft disposed for rotation about said first axis substantiallyperpendicular to said arm,

an adjustable sleeve coupled to one end of said first shaft and havingmeans for adjustably engaging said implement,

said means to dispose said implement in contact with said dishcomprising a first crank coupled to the other end of said first shaft,and

means pivotally attaching said first crank to said first link.

6. A self-feeding device as described in claim 5, wherein said means forreciprocating said arm over an angle of 90 comprises a main drive shaftdisposed perpendicularly to said arm and adapted to rotate about saidsecond axis,

a counter weight fixed to said other end of said arm,

one end of said main drive shaft fixed to said counter weight,

a second crank fixed to the other end of said main drive shaft,

a cam member coupled to said motor and having two raised portionsdisposed 180 from each other,

a second link pivotally linking said cam member with said second crank,

a second switch having cam follower means in contact with said cammember, and

said first and second switches being connected in series with said motorand in parallel with each other.

1. A self-feeding device comprising: a tubular arm, a main drive shaft,means fixing said main drive shaft adjacent one end of said arm, meansto reciprocate said main drive shaft about its axis over an angle ofsubstantially 90*, whereby to reciprocate said arm between asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position,a link disposed within said arm, a first fixed pivot, means connectingone end of said link to said first pivot for movement thereabout, asecond shaft, means disposing said second shaft for rotation about itsaxis, adjacent the other end of said arm, and substantially parallel tosaid main drive shaft, a crank fixed adjacent one end of said secondshaft, means pivotally connecting the other end of said link to saidcrank to rotate said second shaft when said tubular arm is reciprocated,a feeding implement, and means attaching said implement adjacent theother end of said second shaft.
 2. A self-feeding device as described inclaim 1, wherein the distance between said first fixed pivot and saidmain drive shaft is greater than the radial length of said crank.
 3. Aself-feeding device as described in claim 2, wherein said main driveshaft is perpendicular to said tubular arm, and said means toreciprocate said main drive shaft comprises a motor, a cam membercoupled to said motor, and two switches connected in parallel with eachother and each in series with said motor, one of said switches beingnormally closed and comprising means to be opened with every 180*rotation of said cam member.
 4. A self-feeding device adapted to beoperated by an electric motor that is energized through a first switch,which is actuated by a wand attached to the body of an operator, saiddevice comprising: a baseboard for holding a dish, means mounting saidfirst switch on said baseboard for actuation by said wand, a tubulararm, a feeding implement, means mounting said implement, adjacent oneend of said arm, for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to saidarm, means, coupled to said motor, for reciprocating said arm over anangle of 90* between a substantially horizontal position and asubstantially vertical position, about a second axis adjacent the otherend of said arm and substantially parallel to said first axis; said armmoving through about 90* each time said first switch is actuated, andmeans, including a first link within said tubular arm, to dispose saidimplement in contact with said dish and at an angle of less than 180*with the horizontal when said arm is in a horizontal position and torotate said implement to dispose it at an angle closer to 180* with thehorizontal when said arm is moved to its vertical position.
 5. Aself-feeding device as described in claim 4, wherein said means mountingsaid implement for rotation about said first axis comprises a firstshaft disposed for rotation about said first axis substantiallyperpendicular to said arm, an adjustable Sleeve coupled to one end ofsaid first shaft and having means for adjustably engaging saidimplement, said means to dispose said implement in contact with saiddish comprising a first crank coupled to the other end of said firstshaft, and means pivotally attaching said first crank to said firstlink.
 6. A self-feeding device as described in claim 5, wherein saidmeans for reciprocating said arm over an angle of 90* comprises a maindrive shaft disposed perpendicularly to said arm and adapted to rotateabout said second axis, a counter weight fixed to said other end of saidarm, one end of said main drive shaft fixed to said counter weight, asecond crank fixed to the other end of said main drive shaft, a cammember coupled to said motor and having two raised portions disposed180* from each other, a second link pivotally linking said cam memberwith said second crank, a second switch having cam follower means incontact with said cam member, and said first and second switches beingconnected in series with said motor and in parallel with each other.